Lumber Yard Sales Win

A few years ago the owner of the local lumber yard/hardware store down the road reached out (as a flower fan and regular customer) and asked if I’d like to sell my flowers at the hardware store for the holiday.

At the time, I was trying to hard to build my company’s reputation as “high end” and “bespoke” for wedding work. I almost brushed off the opportunity. But I figured that maybe it was a good idea to work with them, since I spend so much money there. Maybe it would earn me a few “brownie points”.

They ordered a few buckets. And I told them that if they needed more, I could bring some more down to them. No sooner had I got back home (a few miles down the road) they were calling — “everyone who works here bought the flowers for their spouses, can we have some more?”

I hustled some more flowers down to them and they asked for another refill that day, too.

Every year, the lumber yard/hardware store orders more and more flowers for both Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. This vendor orders more flowers than all but one other local holiday vendor account.

If you’re looking for a last minute way to sell your flowers for the holiday— put them right in front of the people most likely to buy them. It’s probably not your usual CSA customer or your farmer’s market buyer or your fans on Facebook or Instagram.

Are busy, hardworking guys potentially in need of last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts? Potentially. ;)

Other options:

-Electrical supply

-Hardware store

-Tool rental

-Plumbing supply

-Lumber yard

-Feed store

-Automotive repair/supply store

We stick to small/locally owned stores because they have a stronger commitment to local goods and it’s easier for them to add a random new item to their point of sales platform. They don’t have to wade through a bureacratic set of rules about what can or can’t be sold on the counters at checkout.

Firehouses or police stations may also be opportune locations, but they may be limited in traffic — where as a store you may be able to sell to both the staff and the customers.

All of our sales are wholesale with invoicing for flower bunches ordered. We do not sell on commission. The re-seller keeps all the profits they make from their mark up.